The merchants sat before me, two of their escorts having entered with them. The two guards maintained a posture that attempted to convey humility, but their eyes betrayed a trained vigilance that did not belong to simple road merchants; every movement was calculated, typical of those accustomed to dangers far greater than mere cargo theft.
"So, I see you've agreed to the terms," I said, leaning back in my chair and maintaining a tone of voice that mixed a warm welcome with subtle authority. Obrem stood right behind me, a silent and imposing presence that seemed to corner the visitors with his shadow alone.
The lead merchant, a middle-aged man in silk robes that looked far too new for such a long journey, bowed his head with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Your Highness is very generous. The tax exemption conditions in exchange for local hiring are... unusual, but acceptable for those who wish to see this territory prosper".
I let out a slight smile, noticing his hesitation when pronouncing the word "prosper".
"Well, as you can see, Valenreach has plenty of available labor; this will help you reduce operational costs and, in return, we want a small investment," I said, leaning toward the table and locking my gaze with his. "One-quarter of the gross profit you earn here will be reinvested into the territory".
The two men exchanged a brief glance, a silent signal that did not escape my notice. The leader cleared his throat, adjusting the silk collar that seemed to tighten around his neck more than usual under the pressure of the room.
"Your Highness speaks of investments... but a quarter of the gross profit is a considerable amount for merchants facing the perils of the roads," he said, trying to maintain a diplomatic tone. The rigidity in his shoulders revealed he was being pressed by an administrative logic he didn't expect to find in an exiled prince.
"The roads of Valenreach are now protected by me and my people," I replied, leaning even further over the table, ignoring the scent of expensive incense they brought from the Capital. "And soon, they will be paved with the very gold you will help circulate. If you desire the benefit of exemption, you must understand that the prosperity of this soil is what guarantees your future profit".
They looked at each other for a few seconds, clearly uncomfortable with my clarity.
"Come now, you will profit here more than anywhere else; affordable labor, constant protection. I am only asking for a small compensation so the territory can prosper properly," I said, maintaining a courteous but firm tone.
I extended my hand to Obrem, and he instantly placed the parchment in it with martial efficiency. I unrolled the paper on the table with a sharp movement, revealing the agreement written in cold, impeccable calligraphy. In truth, to trained eyes, it was almost a prison cloaked in commercial terms; and I was trapping my first prey so that Valenreach could finally thrive.
"In this clause," I pointed to a specific paragraph, feeling the merchants' eyes follow my finger as if it were a blade, "it is specified that any merchandise that does not pass our prior inspection will be confiscated as contraband for the benefit of the territorial treasury. And down here, the commitment that thirty percent of your locally generated profits must be kept in our territorial bank to guarantee road maintenance".
They looked at the agreement and exchanged glances again, contained panic beginning to leak through the cracks of their professional expressions. To them, that paper represented the failure of their mission to profit without precedent.
"Come now, if you sign, I will reduce nearly all kingdom taxes to zero; I am only asking for a humble return," I continued, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms calmly.
I felt like a salesman trying to trick a client by presenting a false, "unmissable" opportunity, but the reality was that I was playing a game where I would end up winning almost entirely alone. I looked at them; their guards' armor seemed far too expensive even for a layman like me, and their fine clothes demonstrated the wealth they possessed. The escort was too large for simple traders, which meant they had plenty of gold, and I wanted a piece of it.
"How about this," I said, pulling them from their thoughts, "besides practically zeroing the taxes, we will give you a great additional benefit".
They looked at me, and I felt even their guards were beginning to get lost in the complexity of the offer.
"Come now, you might be missing one of the greatest opportunities of your lives; I will offer you twenty percent of our total productivity. You will be the only ones authorized to sell what Valenreach produces for two months, but I only ask for an initial investment so that my people can remain safe and the works do not stop".
"How much would this investment be?" the leader asked, his voice wavering at the possibility of a monopoly.
"Since you will have two months of exclusivity, we won't ask for much. Just a small investment of fifteen percent now and, at the end of the two months, another fifteen percent, totaling only thirty percent of the projected value," I replied, watching them take the bait. "And, of course, as partners, Valenreach will maintain a fixed percentage on everything you sell during this exclusivity period".
I was creating a royalty system: they worked, they took the risk of transport, and I received a share of the profit at every stage. They exchanged glances, and I could see greed had triumphed over caution; the promise of being the sole sellers of Valenreach's "miraculous" products in the Capital was too tempting. I leaned back in my chair calmly. I had them. Even after the two months, between the initial investment and the sales tax, Valenreach would still be profiting and would have the capital necessary to flourish.